DHAKA, March 5: Asif Iqbal struck a gritty half-century as Pakistan defeated the West Indies by 25 runs to win their maiden ICC Under-19 World Cup title on Friday.
Asif (54) shared a crucial 97-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Salman Qadir (42) to help his team score 230-9 after electing to bat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Some tight bowling and a spate of run outs then denied the West Indies, who were bowled out for 205 under lights. Asif, making his first appearance of the tournament, struck three boundaries and a six off 72 deliveries while Qadir hit a solitary four during his 63-ball knock as they rescued Pakistan from a precarious 81-4.
"Coming in to bat when the chips were down, we decided to play cautiously," Asif said about his partnership with Qadir. "We did what was needed at that stage."
Left-arm spinner Rishi Bachan, who had earlier pegged Pakistan back with a three-wicket haul, ensured Iqbal did not stretch his innings as he came up with a superb direct throw from extra-cover for a run out dismissal.
Opener Adnan Zaheer (33) and Zulqarnain Haider (23 not out) were the others to chip in with useful scores for Pakistan. In reply, the West Indies started strongly through openers Tishan Maraj (32) and Xavier Marshall (26), who put on 69 runs, but the others failed against the spin attack led by Tariq Mahmood (3-34).
Captain Denesh Ramdin (36) gave the West Indies a ray of hope but Pakistan wrested the initiative with some tight fielding which got them four run outs.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN:
Khalid Latif st Ramdin b Bachan 20
Adnan Zaheer b Bachan 33
Jahangir Mirza c Ramdin b Khan 11
Tariq Mahmood st Ramdin b Bachan 10
Asif Iqbal run out 54
Salman Qadir c Matthew b Sebastien 42
Fawad Alam c Augustus b Rampaul 10
Zulqarnain Haider not out 23
Riaz Afridi b Matthew 1
Mansoor Amjad c Ramdin b Matthew 9
Ali Imran not out 5
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-6, NB-3) 12
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 230
FALL OF WKTS: 1-53, 2-58, 3-79, 4-81, 5-178, 6-179, 7-195, 8-197, 9-211.
